January 28, 2002
TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM
One of a kind
___Jan. 10 marked an important day in the lives of all Baptists. W.A. Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas for over 50 years, went home to be with the Lord in his 93rd year.
___We Baptists owe a lot to this man, who stood nearly alone in the Southern Baptist Convention for many years as the proponent of the infallibilty and inerrancy of the Bible. His book "Why I Preach that the Bible is Literally True," which drew harsh criticism and mockery from liberals throughout the convention and from other denominations as well, also ignited a flame and passion for the blessed book in the hearts of a new generation of Christians.
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
___Though many still revile him, no one can deny how God used W.A. Criswell to influence more than one generation of preachers to stand by the Bible as the infallible, inerrant, living word of God. Truly, the mantle has been passed to those of us who remain.
___Truly, there will not another like this pass this way again.
___ Todd W. White
___ Sapulpa, Okla.
Giant shoes
___Thank you for not editorializing on the great giant, W.A. Criswell (Jan. 14), because it would have been hypocritical in light of all the derogatory statements you have made in the Standard against him.
___He believed, defended and preached the inerrancy of the word of God. Praise God for a man who "fought a good fight, ran the race and kept the faith." I would rather be in his shoes at the Judgment Seat than yours.
___ Bob Alexander
___ Phoenix
___Editor's Note: The editor and managing editor of the Standard never have written any editorials or articles derogatory of W.A. Criswell.
Time for revival
___Figures from the Baptist General Convention of Texas show that out of 5,994 churches and missions, Texas Baptists only produced a baptismal ratio of 41 to 1.
___Surely this is not a very good job in evangelism.
___Perhaps one reason for this is seen in the letter from Bill Simpson (Jan. 21). I will not pretend to believe he actually thinks we should have a new ministry to nudists. However, the letter reveals a sobering attitude toward evangelism.
___Do we really need to evangelize the "Jews, Mormons, Hindus, gays, Muslims ..." he speaks of? Are they lost without a relationship with Christ?
___Are our neighbors--good persons and upstanding citizens--really going to hell because they haven't personally repented of their sins and received Jesus as their Savior?
___Does Simpson believe--as does one pastor I know--that hell, if it does exist, is not eternal?
___This month, the BGCT is conducting its annual Evangelism Conference. Downstairs from the main meeting hall, you will find a group of men and women who have forsaken all to follow God's call into full-time evangelism. They are among the most committed people I have ever met. Will your church give a week or two this year to ask God for revival in our churches and spiritual awakening in our nation?
___Will we obey God's commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and utilize his gifts (Ephesians 4:11), or do we really need to?
___ Wes Massey
___ McQueeney
Watching people
___Randy Decker had a comment on "The year in review" in which he opined, "We are a wicked and divisive people" (Jan. 14). I wholeheartedly agree.
___If memory serves correctly, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord."
___I would agree Satan is using our divisiveness against the work we are supposed to accomplish, but what would Decker suggest we do about these divisions? Give up firmly held beliefs to accommodate someone we think is wrong in their actions? Sever connections to those with whom we disagree? Work within a system to affect, or prevent, change as we see fit?
___This last idea requires a "political organization," since we are trying to work together as human beings.
___Here's praying and hoping we ask for God's guidance for those in the leadership and membership of our organization(s) to come together, or not, in a loving manner, so those outside can see God's grace in action.
___I challenge everyone to remember that we need to be aware how our infighting is perceived by the rest of the world. People are always watching and should rightly be concerned about those who don't "practice what they preach."
___ C.M. Menger
___ Fort Worth
Culture of greed
___The word "evil" has been bandied about a lot lately by President Bush in reference to the evil acts of terrorism perpetrated on the United States.
___Our culture of greed blinds us to the evil greed that pervades our land. The Bible tells us the love of money is the root of all evil.
___It is not surprising a corporation like Enron could be spawned in a culture of greed. It would be wonderful for America if President Bush would fight the evil greed that so besets us with the same passion he fights the war on terrorism.
___ Paul L. Whiteley Sr.
___ Louisville, Ky.
'Like most preachers'
___You have been writing about how terrible the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is by trying to get churches to switch conventions. Guess what!!!!
___I have just received a letter from your president telling me what great things the Baptist General Convention of Texas has done and how sorry he is the church I am a member of is not in on it and the BGCT will forgive us and accept us back.
___He went to a lot of trouble to get my name and address. Me, a lowly layman.
___He wasn't interested in finding out why I voted to leave the BGCT. He is not concerned about my opinion but just that we should be following along with the BGCT.
___This is like most preachers that I have run into in association meetings and other places where preachers and laymen meet. The preachers are off talking to each other rather finding what people in general are thinking.
___ Melvin Alkire
___ San Antonio
Bringing Bacon home
___Words of Francis Bacon, penned many years ago, speak to us today:
___"When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion; it doth avert them from the church and maketh them to sit down in the chair of the scorners.
___"For as it is noted by one of the fathers (St. Augustine), Christ's coat indeed had no seam, but the church's vesture was of diverse colors; ... let there (be) variety in the garment, but let there (be) no division.
___"There are two swords amongst Christians, the spiritual and the temporal; ... but we may not take up the third sword (to be used) to propagate religion by wars or by ... persecutions to force consciences. Surely this is to bring down the Holy Spirit, instead of the likeness of a dove, in the shape of a vulture ... and set out of the bark of a Christian church a flag of a bark of pirates and assassins."
___ James Blackwell
___ Beaumont
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